EP City Council OKs loan for business

Tuesday

Apr 15, 2014 at 9:38 PM

CLA Services moving to Four Corners Overlay District

Scott Hilyard of the Journal Star

EAST PEORIA — The City Council on Tuesday approved a low-interest loan to a business that is moving into the suddenly interesting Four Corners Overlay District section of the city, also known as the old downtown.

CLA Services, an accounting firm, is purchasing the former Winter Insurance building at 155 E. Washington St. because it has outgrown its current location on Cole Street. The council approved a $50,000 loan to the business to be paid back at 2.5 percent interest over five years. The money is to make the kind of improvements to the building the city is encouraging to spruce up the area now that the nearby Levee District, the “new downtown,” is open for business.

“They’re looking for improvements to the building more consistent with the area,” said Ty Livingston, the director of planning and community development. “(CLA Services building) would include the kind of stone facade and taking the Levee District design elements that they have offered to include into their building rehabilitation.”

In other business, the council:

> Decided against filling open positions on the city’s planning commission, agreeing instead to reduce the number of commission members from nine to seven.